Sunday Stealing

1. Favorite food:  Pizza, with ice cream for dessert.

2. Favorite color:  The blue that is seen in the bluest skies

3. Favorite Animal:  Jersey cows, dogs, and gentle horses.  I can't choose just one.

4. Favorite thing to do on a cold day:  Read a good book.

5. Favorite vacation spot:  It used to be Colorado, but now I really don't care to vacation.

6. Favorite TV show:  At age 10, it was Dragnet.  We didn't have a television, but I spent at week at my sister's every summer and was introduced to "dum-de-dum-dum".

At 15, it was Ozzie and Harriet, because Ricky sometimes sang at the end of the show.   

 

When I was 16 or so, it was 77 Sunset Strip, because Kookie was so cute! 

  

The last show I couldn't get enough of was "The Good Wife", which ended in 2016.  I don't like any of the weekly shows these days except "All Creatures Great and Small" and "Call the Midwife".  Those are on PBS; I give them a $5 contribution each month and stream the programs I like.  

We watch lots of good movies on streaming services:  This week we watched 22 July on Paramount+; News of the World on Prime (Tom Hanks, so you know it's good); and Harriet, on Netflix.  We've been watching one movie every evening.  

7. Favorite Mythical creature:  I don't think much about mythical creatures.  I know what my atheist friends are thinking, and they are welcome to their opinion.  We can agree to disagree. 

8. Favorite fairy tale:  Any story that lets the good person win at the end.

9. Favorite thing to draw:  I don't draw

10. Favorite scent:  I can't choose just one.  Alfalfa when it's first cut; the smell of a horse; vanilla; most anything baking in an oven; the smell of the woods, which changes with the seasons.  I could go on all day, but I'll stop.

11. Favorite mode of transportation:  The year of our 50th anniversary we took a train trip to the Grand Canyon.  I really enjoyed riding, eating, and sleeping on the train. 

12. Favorite vegetable:  I like most vegetables.  Home-grown tomatoes are near the top, but I do like potatoes in almost any form, so I guess taters will win the competition.

13. Favorite candy:  If you read my blog much, you should already know... Lindor Truffles.

14. Favorite sport:  I hated NFL football my whole life, but since 2000 I got acquainted with the Kansas City Chiefs and watch every game.  I also watch the Miami Dolphins, but only because I love to see Tyreek Hill run.

15. Favorite weather:  James Russell Lowell said it best:  "What is so rare as a day in June?  Then, if ever, come perfect days."

Some like it hot

There hasn't been an  extended cold spell here in our part of Missouri for a long, long time.  

I was trying to think of the positive side of bitter cold weather and did some googling.

1. Better Sleep

   Many of these positive effects of cold weather stem in part from one of our most important processes: sleep. Studies agree that sleeping in a bedroom between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit helps us fall asleep faster and maintain restful sleep. This indoor climate range is often easier and more cost-effective to maintain in cooler months than in the heat of summer.  No, I still won't sleep more than six hours, no matter the temperature.      Cliff will, but he always sleeps well.  And we always have our bedroom below 68 in the winter, so what's new?

2. Immune Boost

   While it might seem to contradict the increased spread of common viruses, studies show that cold weather can trigger our immune systems to battle these very viruses more effectively. Beyond the ability to fight infections, mosquito-borne illnesses are also not a concern when temperatures are too low for insects to reproduce. Also, pollen counts are low in the winter, helping to eliminate some allergy culprits, aside from mold, dander, and dust.      We've neither one had so much as a cold since 2020 anyhow.

3. Less Stress

   Cortisol has been found to be lower in our bodies during the colder months, which can lead to lower stress levels and less irritability. Additionally, when we safely exercise in the cold, we experience an increased release of endorphins over working out in warm weather that can lead to exhaustion and dehydration.      I'm sure this is right, since for about half of my adult life I walked for at least half an hour a day, no matter what the weather.  I can't do that now because of my knees, and neither can my husband.  It doesn't apply to us.

4. A Cold Head, Not a Head Cold

   While prolonged exposure to extreme cold can be hazardous to the skin, consistent and safe exposure to cooler temperatures can benefit it. Like a cold shower, lower temperatures can stimulate blood flow and give your face a bright, healthy look. Beyond beauty, studies show that the cold can also boost our thinking. A cooler indoor climate helps us think clearly, and colder temperatures can help motivate complex cognitive tasks.      If you see me getting prolonged exposure outside in zero temperatures, you had better call an ambulance for me, because I'll be frozen in place.

5. A Kick-Started Heart and Metabolism

   When you exercise in the cold, your heart must work harder to maintain your body temperature. With proper training, this can strengthen your heart. In addition to heart health, colder climates have been linked to increased brown fat. While most adults have white fat, brown fat is more energy-dense and corresponds to increased metabolism.       REPEAT:  I am not spending any more time outside that I have to!

Inflammation can be lower in winter

Ice packs can be used to reduce swelling and pain following an injury. Tucker explains that you may notice your joints becoming less swollen and puffy in winter because cold air acts as an ice pack to reduce inflammation.       HELLO!!!  I WILL NOT  BE OUTSIDE UNLESS I'M WALKING TO THE GARAGE TO GET IN THE CAR AND GO TO WALMART WITH CLIFF.

The only benefit I can think of for myself is that maybe a long, hard freeze will reduce the garden pests that like to kill my cucumbers and squash... and maybe do the same thing with ticks and fleas next summer.  

I'd take that.